Gene Conrad

Eugene Conrad, 85, of Earlham died Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at West Bridge Care and Rehab in Winterset. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 20 at the Earlham Friends Church in Earlham where family will be present during this time. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 21 at the Earlham Friends Church with burial to follow in the Earlham Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Earlham Friends Church and/or the Earlham Fire Department and online condolences may be left for the family at ochiltree.com. Eugene Leo Conrad, son of Roland and Helen (Jenks) Conrad, was born June 12, 1930 in rural Dallas County. Gene graduated from Earlham High School in 1948 and continued his education at Drake University, taking classes for two years. Gene was united in marriage to Norma Welch on June 3, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Earlham. Gene was a carpenter for many years and also served as a mail carrier for Earlham. He was a Boy Scout leader, a volunteer Earlham fireman for 25 years, and served on the Earlham City Council. Gene was instrumental in starting a Puppet Ministry for his church. He enjoyed acting and building sets for the Apple Tree Players in Winterset. Gene used his artistic ability to draw for the children at his church and he was often seen clowning around, especially if there was a parade. Above all else, Gene was a loving husband, father and grandfather who cherished nothing more than the time spent with family. Eugene is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Norma Conrad of Earlham; four daughters, Karen (John) Gullic of Capitola, CA, Susan (Ed) Bentler of Earlham, Vicki (Jim) Griswold of Earlham, and Sharon Burch of Palco, KS; seven grandchildren, Jessica (Scott) Cutting, Adam (Pam) Griswold, Mark Griswold, Melissa Morrison, Amy (Eric) Thompson, Gentry (Paul Halamar) Griswold, and Brittany (Shawn) Aldrich; seven great-grandchildren, Austin and Clay Griswold, Ashlynne and Brooklyn Cutting, Tayden Thompson, Tristan Aldrich, and Addison Halamar; sisters, Marjorie Conaway of Everett, WA and Marilyn (Chuck) Gonseth of Earlham; other relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; twin grandchildren in infancy, Michael and Vanessa Morrison; and great grandson, Beau Thompson.